vs.
The Sorted alternative with free bookkeeping
Price, features, and automation in direct comparison — so you can make the right decision.
In short
Sorted is a lean, guided tax app for solo self-employed people: it walks you through EÜR, VAT returns, and income tax, files them via ELSTER, and works in German and English. The right choice if you only want to file your tax return in a guided way.
Norman is the better choice if you want more than just a tax app. Invoicing and full bookkeeping are free — AI receipt capture, automatic bank matching, e-invoices, and EÜR with no receipt cap. Norman is actively developed, offers a full DATEV integration including booking data, and you only pay when you file tax returns.
Features at a glance
Price, features, and automation in direct comparison. Sorted prices as shown on getsorted.de, as of June 2026.
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Free (complete bookkeeping); tax returns from €9/mo | Starter free; tax filing from €98/yr |
| E-invoicing | ZUGFeRD + XRechnung, free | |
| Bank connection | With AI categorization | Yes, from the Starter plan |
| AI categorization | Automatic, trained on German tax law | |
| Receipt capture | AI matching, scanner + archive | |
| Tax optimization tips | Personalized saving tips | Via optional tax advisors |
| VAT return | From the Pro plan (€21) | From the Pro plan (€20/mo) |
| EÜR | From the Klein plan (€9) | From the Kleinunternehmer plan (€98/yr) |
| Income tax | Included in Klein | From the Kleinunternehmer plan (€98/yr) |
| Trade tax | From the Pro plan | |
| Tax-advisor support | Self-filing without a tax advisor | Optional, for an extra fee |
| DATEV integration | Full integration incl. booking data | |
| REST API | Available incl. integrations | |
| Platform | Web, desktop, and mobile | Browser-based |
| Languages | 7 languages available | German and English |
What are you actually paying?
Both have a free entry tier — the difference is what's included and what filing your taxes costs. Sorted prices as shown on getsorted.de (with no separate net/gross note), as of June 2026.
What you need
Invoicing + bookkeeping
Invoices, receipts, bank matching, e-invoicing
€0
Free — AI receipt capture + e-invoices included
€0
Starter plan — invoices + bank, but no AI receipts, no e-invoicing
Kleinunternehmer taxes
EÜR + income tax
€9/mo
Klein plan — incl. free bookkeeping all year
€98/yr
Kleinunternehmer plan — EÜR + income tax, no regular VAT return
Full tax filing
VAT + EÜR + income tax
€21/mo
Pro plan — all tax types + AI categorization
€20/mo
Pro plan (billed quarterly) — no trade tax, no AI bookkeeping
What are the differences?
Bookkeeping and feature scope
Both help the self-employed with taxes — but Sorted is a pure tax app, while Norman also covers full bookkeeping.
Invoicing, quotes, and full bookkeeping — AI receipt capture, automatic bank matching, EÜR, and VAT-return prep — are free for good with no receipt cap. Norman is as at home on web and desktop as on mobile, and fits everyone from sole traders to a small UG or GmbH.
Sorted is a lean, guided tax tool for solo self-employed people in Germany: it walks you step by step through EÜR, VAT returns, and income tax and files them via ELSTER. Free invoicing and a bank connection for expense tracking are included, but not full bookkeeping with AI receipt processing. Sorted isn't built for more complex cases or incorporated companies.
AI and Automation
This is the biggest difference between the two tools.
Norman is built from the ground up around AI. The AI is trained specifically for German tax law, reads receipts, suggests the booking and tax rate, matches bank activity automatically, and gives you personalized tax-saving tips. EÜR and VAT returns stay continuously up to date from that, and an AI assistant fills out the tax form with you when you file.
Sorted relies on guided forms rather than automation: you enter income and expenses, and the tool generates the tax filings from them. Categorizing transactions and assigning receipts stays largely manual — AI-powered receipt recognition like Norman's isn't at the core of the product.
DATEV, e-invoicing, and integrations
Norman creates and receives structured e-invoices (ZUGFeRD and XRechnung) and offers a full DATEV integration including booking data — structured receipts, payments, and bookings go cleanly to the firm when you want to involve one. On top of that there's a REST API and integrations like Stripe and Shopify.
Sorted focuses on guided tax filing and invoicing. Structured e-invoices (ZUGFeRD/XRechnung), a DATEV export, and a public API are not part of the feature set. If you need e-invoices or want to hand your data to a tax firm in DATEV format, you'll hit limits here.
Active development and language
Norman is actively developed and built AI-first — new tax logic, formats like the e-invoicing mandate, and automations are added continuously. The interface is available in German, English, and more, and you can switch at any time. Ideal for expats and international self-employed people in Germany.
Sorted is available in German and English and is therefore also suitable for expats; optional personal tax-advisor support is available. The product was acquired, and users report that development has slowed noticeably of late — so before a long-term decision, check whether Sorted is still maintained actively enough for your case.
Norman or Sorted — which fits you?
Choose Norman if you …
Want free invoicing and full bookkeeping without a subscription
Want AI receipt capture and automatic bank matching with no receipt cap
Want to create and receive e-invoices (ZUGFeRD/XRechnung)
Need a full DATEV integration incl. booking data and a REST API
Want an actively developed tool and to stay on board as a UG or GmbH
Choose Sorted if you …
Only need to file your tax return — nothing else
Want to be guided through EÜR, VAT returns, and income tax as a solo self-employed person
Are a Kleinunternehmer looking for the cheapest pure tax filing (€98/year)
Prefer a lean, browser-based tool without complex bookkeeping
Want optional support from personal tax advisors
Built for anyone looking for a Sorted alternative beyond a pure tax app
Invoicing, quotes, AI receipt capture, bank matching, and EÜR/VAT-return prep run in Norman without a pricing tier — bookkeeping and invoicing are free, and only the finished tax return is paid.
Automated bank categorization (SKR03/04)
Norman continuously assigns bank movements to the right accounts and suggests matching SKR03/04 postings.
Bank feedSynced
Receipt
Team lunch · 84.20 €
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Transaction
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Smart receipt matching
Forward receipts via app or email. Norman extracts the data and matches them with transactions.
Real-time expense tracking
All expenses broken down by category, automatically updated, and available at any time.
InsightsActive 24/7
Profit margin is down 6%
Financial overview at a glance
Revenue, expenses, and open items in one dashboard that updates with every booking.
AI-powered insights
Norman identifies savings opportunities, flags unusual bookings, and gives you actionable recommendations.
Hear from entrepreneurs using Norman
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